Heart Rate MonitorThere’s a fine line between working out and overexerting yourself. This Lenovo HW01 smartband works in two modes: regular, wherein you can set the band to monitor your heart rate at pre-defined intervals of time throughout the day, and Sports Mode, where the band automatically detects your heart rate every 15 minutes. More importantly, it vibrates when your heart reaches the designated threshold. This is your cue to slow down and go easy on yourself.

NotificationsThe Lenovo HW01 vibrates whenever there’s a notification, so you never miss out on anything. You can now get alerts on the band when you receive a call, message, email, Whatsapp or Facebook notification.

Sleep MonitorA good night’s rest is vital for one to function properly during the day. The Lenovo HW01 lets you track your deep sleep and light sleep so you have a clear idea of your sleep patterns. The band gives you an indication of how much sleep you’re getting and how often you wake up at night.

Social sharing, Selfie, and Music ControlNow share your health goal achievements with your friends and family using the Lenovo HW01 smartband. You can also use your Lenovo smartband to take photos or to control your music. This band is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Energy EfficientThis smartband’s low-power Bluetooth chip and its 3 D acceleration sensor give you precise readings and ensure that this band is energy efficient.

Tough and DurableThis smartband has been put under several pressure tests to ensure its durability. It has been placed under 70-degree temperature for 12 hours and also under minus 20-degree temperature for 128 hours so it is guaranteed to function normally under both cold and hot temperatures. It’s also been through free fall experiments which prove that the band is resistant to collisions up to 1.2 meters, and a Vaseline smear test which ensures its corrosion-resistant nature.

I have both this and the Mi Band 2 and the main differences I have noticed:

1. Screen: the HW01 is bigger and much brighter. (This was the deal-breaker for me - I could actually read the HW01's screen in the sunlight).

2. Battery life: MB2 is about 30 days; HW01 is about half that. The main reason is due to the HW01's heart rate monitor automatically taking a reading every 15 minutes. The MB2 is set for manual readings by default, although this can be changed to auto 15 mins as well (with a correspondingly similar battery drain as the HW01).

3. Charger: HW01 is micro-USB with a rubber flap for keeping out water. MB2 is proprietary using contacts (so may be more water-resistant).

4. Strap: HW01 has a buckle like a proper watch, whereas the MB2 has a stud-like 'popper' - both feel like soft, almost rubbery, plastic. The MB2 can be taken out so you can change/replace the strap, whereas the HW01 is fixed to its strap.

5. Applications: both official apps are pretty comprehensive, but MB2 appears to have additional unofficial apps (for Android) that makes it more useful. (If you're on iOS, you're pretty much restricted to the official apps only).

To summarise, both devices are fantastic value for ~£15. If you intend to use them as basic fitness/sleep trackers, with the added bonus of notifications, you won't be disappointed.

Probably the MiBand 2 deal at a couple of quid cheaper, but while similar it's fairly easy to argue that these products cater for slightly different audiences as the MiBand is more of a fitness tracker with some smart watch type features. This on the other hand is a bit closer to the average definition of a smart watch. Plus the screen sizes are considerably different and thus effects battery life IIRC 7 days here vs 30 on the MiBand.

Personally, I think this is a good deal for this model and is worth considering for those in the market for these devices.

Be careful, the first result when googling "Lenovo HW01" is a warning …Be careful, the first result when googling "Lenovo HW01" is a warning about this being fake (not made by Lenovo).

AH. Looks like these are either fakes or at best unsupported grey imports.

3rd Aug 2017

Bought 2 of these, both refuse to connect to the Android software which is a massively common problem... So beware... Stuck on month 2 of trying to get a refund from GearBest... Oh... And one of them bricked, to fix it you have to drain the battery (a few days), so, like I say, beware...

Almost definitely 'connected GPS' as no other review mentions it and can't see how you can 'share your location' without a cellular connection as well.

4th Aug 2017

Showing as £17.52 for me? Is there a discount code?

4th Aug 2017

I have both this and the Mi Band 2 and the main differences I have noticed:

1. Screen: the HW01 is bigger and much brighter. (This was the deal-breaker for me - I could actually read the HW01's screen in the sunlight).

2. Battery life: MB2 is about 30 days; HW01 is about half that. The main reason is due to the HW01's heart rate monitor automatically taking a reading every 15 minutes. The MB2 is set for manual readings by default, although this can be changed to auto 15 mins as well (with a correspondingly similar battery drain as the HW01).

3. Charger: HW01 is micro-USB with a rubber flap for keeping out water. MB2 is proprietary using contacts (so may be more water-resistant).

4. Strap: HW01 has a buckle like a proper watch, whereas the MB2 has a stud-like 'popper' - both feel like soft, almost rubbery, plastic. The MB2 can be taken out so you can change/replace the strap, whereas the HW01 is fixed to its strap.

5. Applications: both official apps are pretty comprehensive, but MB2 appears to have additional unofficial apps (for Android) that makes it more useful. (If you're on iOS, you're pretty much restricted to the official apps only).

To summarise, both devices are fantastic value for ~£15. If you intend to use them as basic fitness/sleep trackers, with the added bonus of notifications, you won't be disappointed.

4th Aug 2017

I used mine for over a month now and what I have noticed is serious problems with communication to your app. It takes 4 or 5 attempts to connect. Also app itself is poorly delevelop compare to competitors. I would rather go for similar price Chinese equivalent if I knew what I know now.

I have both this and the Mi Band 2 and the main differences I have …I have both this and the Mi Band 2 and the main differences I have noticed:
1. Screen: the HW01 is bigger and much brighter. (This was the deal-breaker for me - I could actually read the HW01's screen in the sunlight).
2. Battery life: MB2 is about 30 days; HW01 is about half that. The main reason is due to the HW01's heart rate monitor automatically taking a reading every 15 minutes. The MB2 is set for manual readings by default, although this can be changed to auto 15 mins as well (with a correspondingly similar battery drain as the HW01).
3. Charger: HW01 is micro-USB with a rubber flap for keeping out water. MB2 is proprietary using contacts (so may be more water-resistant).
4. Strap: HW01 has a buckle like a proper watch, whereas the MB2 has a stud-like 'popper' - both feel like soft, almost rubbery, plastic. The MB2 can be taken out so you can change/replace the strap, whereas the HW01 is fixed to its strap.
5. Applications: both official apps are pretty comprehensive, but MB2 appears to have additional unofficial apps (for Android) that makes it more useful. (If you're on iOS, you're pretty much restricted to the official apps only).
To summarise, both devices are fantastic value for ~£15. If you intend to use them as basic fitness/sleep trackers, with the added bonus of notifications, you won't be disappointed.

Seems to be hit and miss on the screen brightness - I cannot read mine outside in any sun brightness and, as far as I know, there's no way to adjust the brightness of the screen.

Probably not worthwhile - the heart rate tracking is woeful, mine also started failing to detect a wrist after a couple of weeks because of water ingress (screen fogged up just from wearing it whilst hot and sweaty, not immersion or anything). Most of the rest still works & battery life on mine was good (week or so) but I gave up on it after a month, too much of a halfway house.

4th Aug 2017

Bought one when it was first on offer on here, it's a waste of £15, as above the app is awful - thus limits its uses and to add to that it took us days of messing around to get it to connect via blutooth only to fail - we tried Lenovo and GB for help, in the end the watch died... a week or so later i charged it up and it had reset but still refuses to connect to any mobile device. In the past I had tried the new fitbit but that kept losing data.I would love to get a quality watch that keeps constant running data so i can see my heart rate, burn etc BUT at an affordable price - if anyone has suggestions???

4th Aug 2017

Totally agree with jenn101. Don't waste your money on this as its awful. At first I loved it but the build quality is very poor and after 2 months with careful use the strap has split and come away from the monitor and the lens top has become detached from it as well so its now completely useless. I'm back to wearing a mi band 1 which is a far better bit if kit. I'll be getting the MiB 2 as soon as I get a deal off here.

4th Aug 2017

any one can recommend a good bt watch, mainly just for time and msg/call alert (emergency call would be a bonus). Cheap but reliable. Any?